The Portland daily press., 1887-07-02
ANcLoMANIA IN 1887.
A Mania Not Altogether New in our
Country.
[Gustav Kobbe in n. Y. Mail.1

Country.
IGustav Kobbe in N. Y. MALL
Anglomania is not recent foible. 1t
existed even among some of the delegates to
the convention which met in Carpenters
Hall, Philadelphia, in May, 1887, for the pur-
pose OF framing the Federal Constitution;
and had it not been for the simple Republi-
can faith of others in that body, and the
steadfastness with which they clung to that
faith, the United States Of America would be
monarchy instead Of a republic. The mon
archists in that convention were Anglo
maniacs, for they not only lauded the British
form OF government, but also sought to en-
body features Of monarchical rule in the
constitution. The leader of these monarch
ists-the chief Of the Anglomaniacs-wa
Alexander Hamilton. During the convention
he bided his time until dissensions between
the delegates afforded him an opportune mo-
ment for introducing his plan of a constitu-
tion which, if it had been adopted, would
have made this government monarchy in
fact, though it might have been established
under the name Of arepublic. He gave in
plan and afterwards, toward the close of the
convention, handed to James Madison a
paper stating that it delineated the constltu-
tl0n which he would have wished to be pro-
posed by the convention to Congress.
Madison later on returned the paper TO
Hamilton. IL was among the papers which
on the death of Hamilton's son came into
possession, OF the present Alexander Hamil-
ton. The latter is the president of the Board
OF Trustees Of the Astor Library, and he re-
Gently presented the paper to that library
where it forms valuable feature of the col
lection of manuscripts.
How long Hamilton had nursed these
monarchlal plans is not known. Probably
the danger Of disruption of the confedera-
ton OF States, because OF the loose ties that
held them to the general government, led
him TO look upon the other extreme Of gov
ernment, the monarchy, as the only voucher
OF permanency. Students Of American his
tory are aware that the government of this
country was In as great danger Of extinction
during the period between the close of the
revolution and the adoption of the Fed
eral constitution as at any time during the
reVolntlan. There were fierce dissensions
and jealousies among the other states i'm re-
gard to commercial and other matters. Ear
ly In 1888. several states held conventions for
the purpose OF regulating matters among
themselves. On Monday, March 81, 1888,
Hamilton stated in Congress that he disap-
proved of these conventions, and observed
that in pursuance of instructions from his
constituents he would soon propose to Con-
gress q plan for general convention.
Though there is no official evidence that at
that time Hamilton moved further in the
matter 1t appears from letters Of VIM. Gray
son and James Monroe, respectively of
March y and April 49, that proposition for
such convention was made. The matter
House Of Delegates of Virginia, and result
ed IN meeting Of Delegates from
Virginia, Delaware. Pennsylvania, New
Jersey and New York, at Annap-
OILS, Maryland, on the llth Of September,
1856. While this convention was primarily
held for the limited purpose of considering
how uniform system of commercial inter-
course between the States might be proyid-
ed, the State Of New Jersey had enlarged
the powers OF It's commissioners so that they
could consider such ''other important mat
ters as might be necessary to the common
interest and permanent harmony Of the sew
eral States, and report such an act as. when
ratified by the States, would enable the
United States, in Congress assembled, effec-
tually TO provide for the exigences of the
union" This enlarged purpose was incor
Porated IN the report of the convention,
draughted by Hamilton to the Legislatures
OF ilve states, recommending that steps be
taken lor the holding. Of general conven-
tion. Y being expressly stated in the report
tnat New. Jerseys idea Of extending the
powers OF its deputies TO subjects other than
trade was an Improvement on the original
plan and will deserve to be incorporated
into that OF general convention"
But the extreme to which Hamilton wish
ed to go In strengthening the general gov
ernment was not known until the 18th of
June, l7S7, when the Federal Convention
had been in session more than a month. I'm
vi that date Hamilton was singularly incon-
Splcuous In the debates, considering the con-
sPicuous part he had taken in bringing about
the holding OF the convention. The dele
gates had become divided into two hostile
camps on the question of the representation
9I m, the states % IN the general government.
the proposed plan Of proportional repre-
sentatlon. IL was then that Hamilton rose
and proposed his plan Of government
It's chief features were that the executive
and Senators should be elected for life, the
dOvernors OF the States appointed BY the
national executive, who should also have
power te veto laws passed by the States, and
that the officers Of the States militia should
be appointed by the national government.
whist the last members of the convention
were singing, DIR. Franklin. looking toward
the Presidents chair at the back of which a
rising sun happened to be painted, observed
10 feW members near him that painters
had found it difficult in their art to distin-
gulsn rising from setting sun. 81 have"
said he, often and often in the course of the
session, and the vieissitudes of my hopes and
fears as to its issues, looked at that behind
the President without being able to tell
whether 1t was rising or setting but now, at
length, havethe happiness to know that il
Is rising, and not setting sum- The
good Doctors heart must have leaped with
JOY when that sun emerged from behind the
cloud OF Hamllton's monarchial constitution.
Fortunately for this country, the Anglo
mania Of 1887 proved as innocuous as the an
gl0mania of to day
In proposing this plan of constitution
Hamilton referred to the House of Lords as
''amost noble institution, having nothing to
hope for by a change, and a sufficient interest
Dy means OF their property in being faithful
to the national interest they form a perma-
nent barrier against every pernicious innOva-
tlon, whether attempted ON the part of the
crown or the Commons" As for the execu-
tive, he found 'the English model was the
only good one. Let one branch Of the Legis-
lature hold their places for life, or at least
during good behavior. Let the executive al
so be for lffe." Later in the debate he frank
ly admitted that he did not s'thinx favorably
ot republican government" Nevertheless
"he meant to support the plan recommended
as better than nothing" and to his lasting
credit be it said that when several members
OF the convention desired to refrain from
signing the constitution as finally adopted
because they disagreed with some Of the pro-
visions, he. though it differed entirely from
his proposed plan, expressed his anxiety
that every member should sign."